Wrapping machine



June 19, 1928. 1,674;026

. E. L. SMITHETAL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5. I921 9 sneets-sne' t 1ATTORNEIYS,

June 19, 1928. 1,674,026

E. L. SMITH ET AL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Il l I ATTORNEYS.

June 19, 1928.

E. L. SMITH ET AL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5,1921

9 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS.

June 19, 1928. 1,674.026

E. L. SMiTH ET AL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1921 9 she ts-Sheet 4 lVENTORs W/ 1%?"46' ATTORNEYS.

June 19, 1928. 1,674,026

E. L. SMITH ET AL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5. 1 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 2%!f ATTORNEYS June 19, 1928. 1,674,026

E. L. SMITH ET AL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet 6ATTORNEY5 June 1-9, 1928.

E: L. SMITH ET AL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet 7ATTORNEYS.

June 19, 1928. 1,674,026

FiledvJan. 5, 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 WRAPPING MACHINE WW 1% I O 72/ wk 5;

ATTORNEYfi Junele; 192s. 1,674,026

E. L. SMITH ET AL WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 3. 1921 9 Sheets-Sheet '9ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 19, 1928.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ma 1'. ultra m nonacn .1. Panama, or SPRINGFIELD, massacnvsnrrs, asszanons r racxacn macnmnnv COMPANY, or srnmsrmrm, MASSACHUSETTS,

A COIPOBLTION OI HASSACHUSETTS.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

Application filed January 3, 1921. Serial No. 434,507.

7 this general c aracter', but for illustrative purposes a machine forwra ping a grouped plurality of articles in stac ed relation will beconsidered, such a stack of articles being hereinafter referred togenerally by the term article. In wrapping a plurality of articles in agrouped or stacked relation, it is deordinaril sirable to employ alonger wrapper than is used so as to overlap to greater extent w erebyoverlapped portions of the wrapper may extend around two or more sidesof the packa e. A'wrapper thus applied provides adfitional tension uponthe. articles to hold them in .their grouped relation and also functionsto prevent the accidental loosening of thewrapper therefrom.

One object of the. invention is to provide means to apply and fold sucha long wrapper about an article with the overlapped portions about morethan one side of the article. A further object is to provide foldingdevices that rogressively fold the wrapper about the si es and ends ofthe wrapper.

Another object is to provide mechanism to guide and position the articleto be wrapped with respect to the wrapper whereby the said wrapper isaccurately positionedupon the article during the wrapping operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following descriptionof the preferred-iembodiment of the inventionillustrated in t eaccompanying drawings and in which- Fig. 1 is a'front elevational viewof the machine;

Fig. 2is a side elevational view of the housing enclosing the operatingmechanism;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the same taken on the line 3--3 ofFig. 2;

Fi 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing certain ofthe operating mechanism;

Fi 5 is a plan view, enlarged, taken on the hue 5- 5 of Fig. 1 andshowing the artiole-delivering mechanism;

the wrapper is folded as Fig. 6 is an enlarged. elevational view of thewrapping wheels with the end folders removed; I

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the receiving end of the discharge chuteand a pocket of the label-applying wheel;

Fig. 8 is a sectional elevational view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1 showingthe wrapping wheel and folding devices;-

Fig. 9 is 'a sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5 showing thewrapper-holding means;

Fig. 10 is a sectional plan view of the'upper wrapping chute taken online 66 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a sectional elevation on the line 1111 of Fig. 5 showing thewrapper-cutting shears and wrapper-positioning nippers;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the operating device for the wrappergri per:

Fig. 13 is a perspective view 0 a wrapper in 1position for the wrappingoperation;

igs. 14 to26, inclus1ve, are perspective views of an article during thewrapping-operation; and

Fig. 27 is a sectional viewon the line 2727 of Fig. 8. I

For a clearer understanding of the machine about to be described, weshall first briefly describe the progress of an article therethrough inbein wrapped, with particular reference to igs. 1, 5 and 6.

Articles are delivered to the machine by a carrier I and are placed inaposition to be fed or advanced through the machine byv a feed-plungerII. A wrapper w is located adjacent the folding chute or channel III andwhen engaged by the article being advanced' or fed by the feed-plunger Iis forced with the said article into a pocket of a wrapping-wheel IV.During the passage of the article through the chute III and into a.pocket of the wheel, the wrapper is partially folded about the article,as illustrated in Figs. 14 to 16, inclusive. The

wrapping-wheelIV is then rotated 180 degrace and causes the wrapperto'be folded as in Figs. 17, 18 and 19. From the Wheel IV the articleand wrapper are ejected into a folding chute V, duri which movement ownin Fig. 20.

The partially wrapped article is then advanced by the feed member VIthrough a channel VII and into a ocket of the labelapplying wheel VIII.uring this movement the wrapper is completely folded about the article,as in Figs. 21 and 22, and also en ages and carries with it into thewheel a abel or outer wrap er L, as shown in Fig. 24. This wheel Q'IIIrotates 90 degrees and upon comi% to its rest position, a gumming deviceI operates to place a stripe of gum 9 upon the extended label flap, asin Fig. 25. After the gumming operation, the wheel again rotates 90degrees, whereupon-the article is ejected into the receiving end of adischarge chute X. -During the ejection of the article the extended flaof the label L is folded against the side the article and subsequentarticles ejected lnto the said chute X successivel advance thepreviously wrapped articles t erethrough Coming now to a more detaileddescrlption of the machine, a base or support 11 is provided andsupports in a spaced relation forward and rear frame members 12 and 13.The wrapper-applyin mechanisms and other units are locate adjacent theouter face of the frame 12, and the operatlng mechanism for the saidunits are mounted between the frames 12 and 13, whereby rotating andreciprocating shafts and the like extend through and are supported bythe said frame 12 and operate the various units in a proper timedrelation. The operating mechanism for the several units will behereinafter more fully described.

The mechanism or carrier I forfeeding articles to the machine 'will nowbe described, with articular reference to Figs. 1, and 6. A racket 16(see Fig. 5) is secured to a flange 12 of the front frame 12 and carriesin a-fixed relation the spaced bearings 17, 18 and 19 and a 19 disposedtransversely thereto. A rod 20 for supporting the articlecarrier-mechanism is carried by the bearing 18 and is fixed therein by apin 21. A hanger 22 is fixed to the stud 20'and has spaced lugs 23depending downwardly therefrom, to which are secured angle-iron guides24 of the carrier. These ides are spaced apart a sufficient distance toallow the unwrapped articles to pass freely therebetween and are securedin aspaced relation to a horizontallyextending supporting carrier table25 by screws or the like.

This carrier table 25 is supported at its outer end by a. standard 26 ofa well-known type common to machines of this character, comprising asupporting floor plate 27 which supports in a rigid relation 9. verticalpost 28 at the upper end of which is mounted a bracket havingupwardly-extending spaced arms 29. Fixed in the arms 29 is a shaft 30 onwhich is loosely mounted an idle chain pgrallel aring sprocket 31.Thrust collars 32 are adjust.- ably fixed upon the shaft 30 adjacent thesprocket 31 and retain the said sprocket in proper alinement.Horizontally-extending supports 33 project from the arms 29 and carryadjacent their ends a transverse bar 34 which supports the carrier table25 in a rigid relation and in alincment with the machine. An endlesschain 35 runs over the sprocket 31 and an intermittently-opcrateddriving sprocket 36, and has fixcd at intervals thereon blocks 37adapted to receive therebetwecn the articles to he carried to themachine. The upper run of the chain 35 travels along the carrier table25. and a single article or a group comprising a plurality of articlesmay be placed upon the endless chain 35 and carried to the said machinein a step-by-step or intermittent motion and the articles will be heldin an alined relation during their travel by the guides 24. The drivingsprocket 36 is fixed to a. shaft 38 which is rotatably mounted in thebearing 17 of the bracket 16 and receives an intermittent motion in amanner now to be described.

A shaft 39 for operating the carrier I is driven in a timed relationwith the operating parts of the machine and is rotatably mounted in thebearing 19 of the bracket 16 and has fixed to its outer end a driver 40of 0. Geneva mechanism. The driven element or disc 41 of the Geneva hasthe usual slots 44 for actuation by said driver 40 and is intogral witha driving spur-gear 42 rotatably mounted upon a suitable stud 43 carriedby the bracket 16. A driven pinion 45 fixed to the sprocket shaft 38 isin meshing engagement with the driving gear 42. Thus, rotary motiondelivered by'the shaft 39 is transformed to an intermittent orstep-bystep motion by the mechanism just described and the chain 35carrying thereon the articles moves intermittently to deliver thearticles to the said machine in a timed relation with other operatingunits of the machine.

An oscillating shaft 46 is pivotally mounted in the bearing 19 and hasfixed to its outer end a.transfer member 47. This transfer membercarries on its upper end a pusher 48 adapted to engage the articlescarried by the chain carrier for transferring them to the feed-plungerII. The shaft 46 is oscillated in a. proper timed relation by mechanismlater to be described and causes the transfer of the articles while thechain 35 is in a rested osition with a stack of articles adjacent t efeed-plunger II.

A bracket 49 is fixed to the bracket 16 and carries on its under side aguide member 50 and an angular folding plate 51. The guide member, aswill be seen by reference to Fig. 6, extends to a point adjacent thefeed-plunger II and serves as a top guide for the articles during theirhorizontal members 56 and 56 in which is reciprocably mounted a verticalshaft 57. A lunger rod .58 in an ofl'set'relation therewit and fixed tothe shaft 57 by amember 57"has at its upperendoppositely disposed arms59, to

whichis yie dingly mounted ,an article re- .hceiving member 60. Thismember 60 has'a depending portion in engagement with a side of theplunger rod 58 which functions to retain the article engaging surface inalinement with the pockets of the wrapping wheel IV as will be seen in'Fig. 6. The plunger 58 is adapted for a reciprocating movement andtravels from a position where the receiving surface of the member 60 isflush with that of the support 52 to a position at the mouth of a pocketof the wrapping wheel IV.

-A rocking lever 61 for reciprocating the plunger 58 is pivotallyconnected to ,therod 57 by a link 62 and is fixed to anoscillating shaft63 which shaft is pivotally mounted in the forward frame 12 and isdriven by mechanism later to be described.

The mechanism for delivering a wrapper into position and adjacent thefolding chute III will now be described with reference to Figs. 1, 5, 6,8, 9, 11 and 12. A bracket 65 carried by the frame 12 carries on itsupper side wrapper-su porting plates 66 and 67 which are space apartsufliciently to allow the wrapper cutting shears to operatetherebetween. The plate .66 carries on its rear end a transversebar 68vertically spaced therefrom by filler members 69 a distance sufficientto' allow a web of wrapping material to ass freely therebetween. "(SeeFigs. '5'an 9.) An upstanding extension 70 adjacent one endof the bar 68has fixed 50 therein a stud 71'which supports a pivoted angle-shapedtension arm 72. A coil spring ing a weighted roll-engaging portion 78. Abracket 7 9 carried by the forward frame 12 has rotatably mountedtherein friction rolls and 81 between which the web of wrapping materialis fed. The upper roll 80 is positively driven by a'shaft 83 as willlater appear and is so timed as -to unwind from the roll Wa suflicientlength of paper for a wrapper during each cycle of the machine in theusual and well known manner.

A reciprocating-gripping device 84 for advancing the Web for the cuttingoperation and positioning of the severed wrapper is provided and iscarried on a reciprocating bar 85 which is suitably supported inbrackets 86 fixed to the frame 12. (See Fig. 11.) This wrapper gripper84 carried by the slide 85 comprises a stationary. jaw 88 rigid with theslide bar 85 and a'movable jaw 90 pivoted at 91 and having securedthereto a yieldable gripping" member 92.

The'jaw 90 is so pivoted as to be adaptedto swing into an open or closedposition with reference to the stationary jaw. This movement of the jawis effected by a pair of toggle links 93 and 95, the link 93 beingpivoted to the grip er bracket 89 and the link 95 to the mova le jaw 90.The two links 73 encircles a pro'ecting end of the stud 71 andis sodispose as to cause the said arm 72 to yieldingly engage the web ofwrapping 55 material as in Fig. 9 and prevent a backward movement' ofthe same when it has been drawn forwardly for the cutting operation.

A bearing shaft 74 carried by the forward frame 12 is adapted to supporta roll of 60 wrapping material \V in the usual and well- 7 knownmanner.'--A friction device for preventing a spinning orover-running-unwinding movement of the roll W- is su ported by thebracket 75 of-the frame 12 an comprises a a lever 7 6 pivotally mountedat 77 andhavaws.

93 and 95 are of course pivoted together and -aroll 94 is mounted uponthe link 93 for engaging with the'actuating means for the closing andopenin movement. The arrangement is 'such t lat, when the toggle isstraightened as in Fig. '11, the gripper jaws will be in a closedrelation, and when the end of the lever 93 is moved to the left as byactuation of the roll 94 thereof the togg e will be collapsed and thegripper jaws moved into an open relation. I

This gripping mechanism is carried by the reciprocating bar 85 from aposition behind the shears 96 where the jaws are closed to engage'theend of the wrapping material to a point beyond the folding chute III asshown in Fig. 6, in which position the jaws are opened to release thewrapper engaged thereby. The actuating mechanism for opening and closingthe grippers, comprises a plate 96 having adjacent one end thereof anoffset parallel member 98. (See Fi 12.) A pin 99 carried by the plate 96is ada ted to slidably interfit arecess in the face 0 the frame 12 toretain the plate in alinement and an'operating-rod 100 extends throughthe said frame 12 we point beyond where till) ieo it is given areciprocating movement by mechanism later to be decribed. It is to. beunderstood, that the roll 94 of the gripper toggle-93, 95 travelslongitudinally between the plates 98, 96 during the reciprocation of thegrippers and that transverse movements of the plates 96 and98actuatethe-roll at proper" times to open and close the gripper Thereciprocation of the bar 85 is accomtical folding chute III an in theusual and well known manner.

plished by an oscillatin lever 203 pivotally connected to the said ar bya link 1. The said lever 203 is fixed to the end of an 0?cillating shaft202 which is oscillated in a timed relation with other parts of themachine by mechanism later to be described.

The mechanism for severing the wrapper w from the strip of wrappingmaterial 1V will now be described with reference to Figs. 1, 5 and 11.Upper and lower shear members 102 and 103 are pivotally mounted upon abracket 104 that is fixed to a stud 105 carried by the wrappersupporting bracket and a rocking lever 106 pivoted to the bracket 104 ispivotally connected by links 107to the shear members 102 and 103 in sucha manner that a rocking movement of the Said lever will open or closethe shearAs reciprocating rod 108 passing through a suitable opening inthe frame 12 is connected to the lever 106 andis operated to open orclose the said shears by mechanism later to be described.

Devices to retain the articles in a, closely grouped relation and toaccurately position the same with respect to a wrapper while beingdelivered to the feed plunger II are provided and consist of the levers110 31votally mounted upon the bracket 65 be ow the wrapper supportingplate 67. These levers at their outer ends are provided with verticallydisposed article engagin surfaces 111 extending forwardl to a positionabove the horizontal guide p ate 52 (see Figs. 1 and 5), and guidesurfaces 112 disposed in a position to guide and embrace the ends of astack of articles as said stack is fed upwardly by the plunger IIagainst the wrapper (see Fig. 8). Arms 113 havingintermeshing teeth 114are carried by these levers 110 and serve to equalize the motion of thesaid levers. A compression spring 115 carried by the bracket 65 abutsone of the levers 110 and tends to cause the levers 110 to swing towardeach other while an adjustable stop 116 carried by the outer lever110 isadapted to abut the brackets 65 to limit the inward movement of thearticle engaging plates 111 of the levers 110.

The mechanism comprisin the lower verthe wrapping wheel IV for partiallyfoldin the wrapper about the article will now be escribed with referenceto Figs. 1, 6, and 8. A bracket 117 is secured to the front face of theframe 12 and carries a semi-circular member 118 as best shown in Fig. 6.An angular folding late 119 having studs 120 slidably mounted in thelower side of the plate 118 is forced toward the opposed angular foldingplate 51 by coil springs 121 while nuts 122 in threaded engagement withthe studs 120 at the outer ends thereof abut the said members 118 and.imit the inward movement of '5 rings 129 embracin the said late 119thereby limiting the minimum wi th of the folding chute III formed bythe folding plates 51 and 119. The foldin plate 51 is fixedly mounted onthe bracket arm 49 as shown and together with the folding plate 119forms the vertically disposed folding chute III.

Semi-circular supporting plates 124 arranged in parallel relation to themember 118 are secured to said member 118 at each side thereof as shownin Fig. 8, by screws 125 and are held in a spaced relation from the saidmember 118 by spacing collars 126. The supporting plates 124 serve tosupport adjacent their forward edges end folders or plates 127 which areresiliently mounted upon th'eplates 124 by studs 128 and are arranged tobe forced toward each other by the said studs 128.

hese plates 127 are a so curved semi-circularly and are preferablyarranged to receive therebetween the stack of articles and wrapper asthe latter are carried around by the wrapping wheel IV and are adaptedto resiliently engage the ends of the stack of articles and partiallyfolded wrapper.

Each of the end foldin plates 127 is preferably formed as best hown inFig. 1 and has at its lower end an angular depending projection 130 anda vertical folding slot 131 adjacent thereto. A comparatively smallrectangular end folder 133 is rigidly fixed to and projects below thelower end of each of the said plates 127 and functionsto initially foldone of the end flaps of the wrapper as will later appear.

A. wrappin wheel IV comprising oppositely dispose article receivingpockets 134, preferably two in number, is fixed to an intermittentlyrotated hollow shaft 153, the operating mechanism for which will behereinafter more fully described. Each of the pockets 134 is providedwith a rigid side 135 and a resilient side 136 whereby the article maybe frictionally held within the pocket of the said wheel during itsrotation 1n the usual and well known manner.

Plungers 137 are rovided in each ocket of the wheel (see Fig. 8) and preerably have a surface equal in area to that of the stack of articlesbeing wrapped, whereby the stack is supported substantially throughoutthe area of its side contacting with the said plunger. Rods 138 fixed tothe plungers 137 and having teeth in one side thereof reciprocate insuitable bearings 139 of the wheel and intermesh with a rotatablymounted pinion 140 as best shown in Fig. 8. These rods 138 are offsetfrom one another as shown in Fig. 27 and are adapted for a reciprocatingmovement in opposite directions. The plungers 137 previously referred toare carried by rods 138 from their extended position shown in Fig. 6 totheir dotted line position indicated at 141, an

offset reciprocating driving rack 142 also intermeshes the pinion 140and is fixed to and reciprocated by a rod 143 slidably carried in theshaft 153 which is operated by suitable mechanism later to be described.

The upper vertical folding chute V located at the upper side of thewrapping wheel, comprises a resiliently mounted plate 143 that issupported by a member 144 carried by the plate 124 (see Figs. 6 and 10),and a depending portion 145 of a horizontal plate 146. The plate 143 isso disposed with reference to the plate 145 as to yieldingly pressagainst a stack of articles during its passage through the chute formedby said plates in the usual manner. A friction block 148 is carried atthe upper end of the bracket 118 and functions as a friction drag on atrailing flap of the wrapper as the partially wrapped stack is carriedtherepast y the wrapping wheel.

The horizontal folding chute VII extending at right angles to the chuteV is formed by the upper side of the plate 146 and a resiliently mountedupper parallel plate 149. The plate 149 is resiliently carried by pins150 slidably mounted in a rigid support 151 detachably secured to thebracket 152. This spring pressed plate 149'is adapted to press lightlyupon the package being advanced through the chute VII to hold thewrapper firmly against the said package. The lower plate 146 of thechute is provided with angularly disposed slots 154 (see Fig. 10) forturning under the last end flap of the wrapper during its passage overthe said plate i. e., from the condition shown in Fig. 21, to conditionshown in Fig. 22.

Spaced and parallel guide plates 156 best shown in Fig. 1 areresiliently carried by the plate 124 as are the plates 127. These plates156 are provided with projecting end-folding portions 157 located ateach side of the chute V so as to engage an end flap of the wrapper fora folding operation during the ejectment of the stack from the saidwheel IV in the manner shown in Fig. 20. A vertical slot 158 is providedin each plate 156 as indicated to form a subsequent fold of the endflaps of the wrapper as will later appear. These plat-es 156 are furtherpro-- vided with portions that extend parallel with and adjacent eachside of the folding channel VII and terminate in semi-circularextensions that are substantially concentric to the.axis of rotation ofthe label applying wheel VIII. These plates 156 are preferably adaptedand arranged to exert a yielding pressure against the end folds of thewrapper during the passage of the article thcrepast and while beingcarried in a rotative direction by the label applying wheel VIII.

After the stack is completely wrapped into package form, a label 15preferably applied around four sides of said package. The labels aredeliveredto the machine at a point between a receiving pocket of a labelapplying wheel VIII and the end of-the plate 146. Positioning means forthe label comprise a rest-bar 160 carried by the member 118 to which arefixed in a spaced relation positioning pins 161 arranged in pairs toreceive the end of the label and hold it in a proper relation withrespect to the pocket of the wheel VIII. I

Labels may be delivered to the rest-bar 160 by any suitable meansthrough a guide chute 162 such as disclosed in the patent to Giroud946,347, of January 11, 1910.

The label applying Wheel VIII is provided with radially disposed pocketspreferably four in number formed by rigid members 164 and spring-pressedmembers 165. The spring pressed members 165 exert a yielding pressureupon the article and hold the same securely within the pocket during therotating of the wheel. Plungers 166 are provided in each pocket of thewheel VIII and are connected by plunger rods 167, in the usual andwell-known manner. The wheel VIII is fixed to an intermittently rotatingshaft 168 that extends through the forward frame 12 and which receivesits intermittent rotary motion from mechanism later to be described.

A reciprocating rod 170 is slidably mounted in suitable bearings 171 ofthe bracket 152 and carries at the end thereof an offset member to whichis secured the pusher VI. This pusher V1 is adapted to advance anarticle through the folding chute VII where the folding operation of thewrapper is completed and to further advance the wrapped article past thelabel slot where a label is engaged by the article, and finallydelivered into a pocket of the label wheel VIII.

This reciprocating rod 17 0 is actuated by an oscillating lever 200having a pin and slot connection 170' at its upper end.' The lever 200is fixed to the end of the oscillating shaft 201 that is operated bymechanism later to be described.

As' previously described, the label a plying wheel VIII operatesintermittent y in a counter-clockwise direction and rests for the glueapplying operation after a movement of 90 degrees. JVhen in thisposition, the projecting label flap L extends radially of the pocket asshown in Figs. 1 and 6. An abutment 172 comprising a rod or the likesupported by the forward frame 12 is positioned in such a manner thatthe extended label flap L may bear thercagainst during the applicationof glue.

A glue applying device IX for applying the glue to the extended wrapperflap 1s provided and is best indicated in Fig. 1. This device is of thecustomary type and comto rotate therebetween.

prises, as does that in the patent to Smith and Phelon #1,313,864 ofAugust 19, 1919, a pot or reservoir 173 carried by an oscil lating lever174 and has a glue roll 175. The lever 174 is oscillated in a mannerlater to be described to move the glue roll into engagement with theflap L of the label L.

Curved plates 176 as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 are supported by the bracket152 and are adapted to lay the extended flap of the label toward thepackage during its rotation.

Means are provided to eject the packages from the label wheel VIII intothe chute X and will now be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 6.Parallel ejecting levers 178 and 179 are fixed to an oscillating shaft199 and are spaced apart upon the said shaft a distance to allow thelabel wheel Studs 181 projecting inwardly from the ends of said leversare adapted to engage, during the rearward movement of the levers, theunder side of successive plungers' 166 of the wheel and to force themoutwardly to eject an article in the usual and well-known manner.ejecting movement the plungers 166 are only moved to a pointapproximately flush with the mouth of their pockets and have nooverthrow beyond the pockets when ejecting articles therefrom.

Means consisting of a reciprocating chute X for receiving the articlesfrom the wheel VIII will now be described. A lower chan nel-shapedmember 182 is supported at its outer end by suitable brackets 183. Ablock 181 pivotal mounted in the said brackets 183 has a projecting rod186 which is reciprocably supported in the bracket 187, secured to thefront frame 12 of the machine. A bracket 188 fixed to the forward end ofthe member 182 is pivotally connected to an oscillating lever 189 whichlever on oscillating causes the chute to move to and from its receivingposition.

A tension lever 190 is pivoted at 190 to an extending portion 188 of thebracket 188 and a tension spring 191 secured to the underside of thechannel 182 and lever 190 serve to yieldingly force the tension lever inan upward direction. A set screw 192 is carried by a suitable boss onthe said lever 190 and is adapted-to abut the extension 188' of thebracket and limits the upward movement of the said lever. The upper sideof the chute X comprises a channelshaped member 191 in which is carrieda brush 195 the bristles of which are adapted to engage the packages asthey are advanced through the chute to yieldingly press upon thepackages for holding the label flap thereagainst.

A block 194' fixed in the receiving end of the upper side 194 of thechute is substantially equal in width to that of the wrapped package andis provided with a rounded In their nose under which the package ispushed when ejected from the label wheel so as to lay the label flapagainst the package. The block 191 also acts as an abutment against.

which the package is yicldingly pressed by the tension lever 190.Notched supports 196 fixed to the channel are adapted to en gage pins19? carried in the lower channel 182 by the means of which the upperchannel may be easily and quickly removed. The previously referred tooscillating lever 189 is fixed to a shaft 198 which receives itsoscillating movement by mechanism later to be described.

The reciprocating chute 10 is adapted and arranged to reciprocate to theleft or away from the pocket of the label wheel VIII prior to therotative movement of the said wheel thereby carrying the package lastejected into the chute away from the plunger 166 of the wheel. It isreciprocatcd to the right or toward the wheel for carrying the packagelast ejected into position where it may be engaged by the package in thewheel during the latter part of the wheel's rotation, that isthe packagein the wheel. on nearing its ejecting position, frictionally engages thepackage in the chute and a drag is imparted to the label to cause it tolay tightly against the package before it is ejected into the saidchute. The subsequent movement of the receiving chute to the left afterreceiving an ejectedpackage provides the necessary clearance for thepocket of the label wheel VIII in the next rotative movement thereof.

The mechanism for operating the various units of the machine will now bedescribed with particular reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4. The-sideframes 12 and 13 as was previously described, are secured to the base 11in a spaced apart relation and have mounted therein various shafts whilethe mechanism for imparting motion to the respective shafts are mountedbetween or adjacent the said frames.

A main shaft 210 is rotatably carried in the frames 12 and 13 and hasmounted upon one end the usual tight and loose pulleys 211 while a handwheel (not shown) is tixed to its opposite end as is usual in machinesof this character.

A driven shaft 83 is rotatably mounted in the side frames 12 and 13 andreceives its motion through a gear 215 carried thereby which engageswith a gear 214 fixed to the main drive shaft 210. This shaft has alsofixed to its forward end the wrapper feed roll 80 previously described.

A cam 216 having suitable grooves in each face thereof is fixed to thedriven shaft 83, and a lever 217 fixed to the shaft 202 is provided witha cam roll 217 for engaging one groove of the said cam and is adapted tobe oscillated by the rotation of the cam where llo by motion is impartedthrough the shaft to the lever 203 which is connected to and operatesthe wrapper gripping device. A lever 218 fixed to the shaft 63 has aroll 218 engaging the groove in the opposite face of the said cam 216 bywhich an oscillating movement is imparted by the cam to the said leverand whereby oscillating movement is delivered to the elevator operatinglever 61.

A Geneva driver 219 is fixed to the shaft 83 and engages with grooves121 of a Geneva disc 220 that is rotatably mounted upon a stud 223whereby a continuous rotative movement of the shaft 83 will impart anintermittent movement-to the said Geneva disc in the usual manner fordriving other shafts later to be described.

A gear 224 fixed to the shaft 83 is in engagement with a gear 225 thatis rotatably mounted upon a stud 226 fixed to the forward frame 12 and asprocket 227 secured to the gear 225 operates a chain 228 that is inengagement with a suitable sprocket 263 fixed upon a rotatable shaft 262carried in the upper end of the side frame 12, whereby a continuousrotary motion is imparted to the said shaft 262 for a purpose as willlater appear. An eccentric 264 of the usual construction has its hubportion fixed to the shaft 262 at the upper end of the frame 12 and ispivotally connected at 265 to the lever 1740f the gluing device IXwhereby the said lever 174 may be oscillated to move the glue roll intoengagement with a label flap L in a proper timed relation and while thelabel wheel is at rest.

A gear 222 fixed to the Geneva disc 220 and consequently rotatedintermittently thereby is in meshing engagement with a gear 231 fixed tothe shaft 168 to the outer end of which is received the label applyingwheel VIII. A gear 232 also fixed to the shaft 168 is in engagement witha gear 233 fixed to the wrapping'whcel hollow shaft 153 whereby anintermittent motion is imparted to the wrapping wheel IV. Thiis, thegear 222 by reason of its being rotated intermittently by the Genevadisc 220 delivers through the gears 231232 and 233 an intermittentmotion to the wrapping wheels IV and VIII.

The gear 225 also is in meshing engagement with a gear 229 fixed .to theshaft 230 for imparting a continuous rotarymotion to the saidshaft 230.

An oscillating lever 234 is fixed to the shaft 199 and has a roll 234 inits end that engages a suitable groove in the face of a cam 235. Thiscam being fixed to and continuously driven by the shaft 230 imparts anoscillating motion to the lever 234 and shaft 199 to the forward end ofwhich shaft is secured the ejecting levers 178 and 179 previouslydescribed.

An oscillating lever 236 fixed to the shaft 198 is provided with a camroll 236 that engages a groove in one face of the cam 237 whereby thesaid cam imparts an oscillating movement to the said shaft to oscillatethe discharge chute operating lever 189 mounted upon the end of the saidshaft 198. A cam fork 238 having a bifurcated end slidably engaging theshaft 230 is provided with a roll 238 that engages a suitable groove ina face of the cam 237 and is pivotally connected to an oscillating lever239 fixed to the shaft 46 whereby the said cam will impart anoscillating motion to the said shaft 46 and to the article pusher 47 totransfer articles from the feed conveyer I to the feed plunger II in aproper timed relation with other units of the machine.

The shaft- 39 disposed transversely to the shaft 83 is provided with abevel gear 240 intermeshing with a gear 241 fixed to the said shaft 83whereby a continuous rotative motion is imparted to the shaft 39 tooperate the article carrier mechanism. The shaft 230 previouslydescribed, extends throughthe rear frame 13 and has fixed to its end acam 243 having in one face thereof a suitable cam groove 244. A lever245 fixed to the shaft 201 has a roll 245 in engagement with the .saidcam groove 244 whereby an oscillating motion is delivered to the saidshaft 201 and the pusher lever 200 is oscillated thereby to operate thepusher VI in a timed relation with other units of the machine.

The mechanism for operating the wrapping wheel plungers, the wrappershears, and nipperopening means will now be described with particularreferencetoFigs. 2, 3 and 4. A shaft 246 is mounted in suitable bearings247 on the outer face of the rear frame 13 and has fixed thereto a bevelgear 248 that is in meshing engagement with a similar gear fixed to thecontinuously rotating shaft 83. A rock shaft 250 is fixed in bearings251 of the rear frame 13 and levers 252. 253 and 254 are pivotallymounted on the said shaft. for an oscillating movement. Cams 255 and 256are fixed to the shaft 246 for the purpose now to be described.

The lever 252 having a bifurcated end 257 carries suitable studs 258that are adapted to engage a groove of a collar 259 whlch is fixed uponthe reciprocating rod 143 that is carried in the hollow shaft 135, and acam roll 252 engages the groove of the cam 255 whereby the lever isrocked or oscillated to reciprocate the rod 143 whereby the plungers ofthe wrapper wheel are moved in and out of their respective pockets asheretofore described.

The lever 253 is provided with a cam roll 253 engaging a suitable groovein one face of the cam 256 and is pivotally connected at 260 with therod 100 whereby a reciprocating movement is imparted to the said rod toopen or close the wrapper nippers as has been previously described.

The lever 254 15 provided with a cam roll Q54 in engagement with agroove in the other face of the cam 256 and has pivotally connectedthereto the rod 108 whereby a reciprocating motion is imparted to thesaid rod to open or close the wrapper severing shears as has beenpreviously described.

In operation the several units of the machine are so adjusted in a timedrelation as to successively wrap groups of articles or single articlesand to apply a label to these wrapped packages.

Stacks or articles are placed upon the intermittently operating chain 35of the carrier 1 between the blocks 87 carried thereby and'are fed in astep-by-step manner to a position adjacent the feed plunger II. When inthis position and while the chain is at rest the plunger 11 is in itslower receiving position wherein its resilient plate (50 is flush withthe block 52 of the conveyor or carrier. While the plunger is in itsreceiving position the pusher 17 is oscillated, to the left andtransfers the stack or article from the chain to the plunger plate 60.During the transferring movement of the articles they are engaged by theprojections 111 of the equalizing levers 110 which exert a yieldingpressure thereagainst at their ends to position the articles properlywith respect to the folding chute, wrapper etc. Simultaneously with thetransfer of the stack of articles a wrapper w is advanced by thegrippers 8& into position. it having been cut from the strip of wrappingmaterial by the shears 96 in the manner described.

When the wrapper w is positioned, a plunger 137 of the wheel IV isextended from a pocket 134 thereof and abuts the upper side of thewrapper as best shown in Fig. 6. Also. during the extending movement ofthe plunger 187, the plunger II is elevated and carries with it thegroup of articles a which plunger forces the wrapper and staclryieldingly against the plunger 13? of the wrapping wheel in such amanner that the stack and wrapper are clamped between the feed plungerplate (51) and the plunger 137 and are held in a correct relativeposition for the wrapping operation as best shown in Fig. 13.

The feed plunger plate thus engaging the article and forcing it with thewrapper against the plunger 137 of the wrapping wheel continues in itsupward movement and the mechanism operating the plunger 13? is so timedas to retract the said plunger into its pocket simultaneously withthefeeding movement of the feed plunger II. The stack and wrapper thusbeing clamped between the plunger 137 and plate 60 is fed through thefolding chute HI during which movement the wrapper w is folded againstthe sides of the stack as shown in Fig. 14. by the side 51. of the chuteand the resilient. member 119.

The stack and wrapper being further advanced by the plunger plate(50,1he end folder [33 engages with the upper extension of the wrapperat the ends of the stack and lays against the ends of the stack this endextension forming a tuck as at 267 shown in Fig. 15. The stack isfurther advanced and finally deposited in a pocket 134 of the wheel IVand during the latter part of the advancing movement one side extensionof the wrapper is folded against the end of the stack by the projection1 30 of the folding plates 127 as at 268 and the end extensions at theother side of the stack are received in the slots 131 of the saidfolding plates 12?. .Vhen the stack with the wrapper is deposited in apocket of the wheel the folding plates 12'? yieldingly hold the wrapperagainst the ends of the stack and thereby retain creases in such endfolds as are made by the folders.

When the stack and wrapper have been deposited in the pocket of thewheel IV the latter is rotated 180 degrees and during this rotation thefold 269 of the wrapper is made by the slot 131 of the plate 127 in themanner shown in Fig. 17 and also, the extended wrapper end is laidagainst another side of the stack as in Fig. 18 by said wrapper iiapstri ing the end 118 of the support member 118 during the first part ofthe r0tation of said wheel.

The wheel IV on coming to rest carries the stack and wrapper to theposition shown in Fig. 19 aiid the wrapper extension during the latterpart of the movement of the said wheel is engaged between the block 148and extension 135 of the pocket side 135 to exert a tension upon thewrapper to cause it to snugly lay about the several sides of the stack.

The partially wrapped stack is ejected from the wheel IV by a plunger13'? of the wheel into and through the wrapping chute ll hen firstadvanced by the plunger 13?, the extensions 15? of the folding platesengage the wrapper extension at the top ends of the stack and fold anend flap 27!) best shown in Fig. 21) and simultaneously therewith a sidetold 27] is made by the plate 11-5 of the chute. The partially wrappedstack is finally carried by the plunger :37 to the position shown inFig. (3 and in which position the extended ends of the wrapper liewithin the angular slots 158 of the folding plates 156. These foldingplates as previously described are adapted to exert a yielding pressureagainst the ends of the stack to hold the folded wrapper thereagainst.

in a timed relation with the ejectinent of the partially wrapped stackfrom the wheel,

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the pusher VI is adapted to advance the stack and wrapper through thechute VII to complete the folding of the wrapper about the stack. Theend fold 272 and the remaining side fold 273 of the wrapper are madesimultaneously by the angular slot 158 and the bottom late 146 of thechute as the stack is advanced by the pusher VI and as the stack isfurther advanced the depending end flaps 272 are engaged in the slots154 of the plate 146 and turned up under the stack as best shown in Fig.22.

. A label L is properly positioned in a posi tion in advance of thestack and as the same i is fed forwardly by the pusher VI, the saidwheel VIII is in its extended position prior to the delivery of thewrapped stack and against which the label and stack are forced. Thepusher VI feeds the stack A and label into a pocket of the wheel and thelabel is laid against the sides of the stack in the usual manner bestshown in Fig. 24. The plunger 166 is of course forced into itsrespective pocket of the wheel VI and the opposite plunger 166 connectedthereto by the rod 167 is moved out of its pocket to eject a stack intothe discharge chute X.

The wheel VIII having received a stack and label, rotates 90 degrees andcomes to rest with one end of the label extended and lying against theabutment 172. When the wheel is in this rested position, the glue pot isoscillated to the left and its roll 175 engages the label flap L at apoint adjacent the abutment 17 2 and deposits a strip of glue or gum gat the end of the extended label flap as best shown in Fig. 25. Thewheel again rotates subsequent to the gluing operation through an angleof 90 degrees and during which rotation the extended label flap L islaid toward the side of the stack by the circular plate 176.

During the rotative movement of the wheel, the chute X is reciprocatedto the right or toward the wheel VIII. This movement positions theWrapped stack or package last ejected thereto where its side is engagedby the extended flap L of the stack ,in the wheel and as thewheel'rotates, this engagement creates a drag upon the label L andfunctions to pull the label tightly upon the article and to so hold itwhile being ejected into the chute. The stack is first partially ejectedinto the chute X by the plunger 166 which receives its reciprocatingmovement from a stack delivered against the plunger at the opposite sideof the wheel. The ejecting levers 178 and 179 are so timed as toovertake the ejecting plungers and to engage the same by the studs 181and to accelerate the movement of the said plunger and to eject morerapidly the stack than would be the case if wholly ejected by theincomingstack on the opposite side of the wheel. 0

As the stack is ejected into the receivlng end of the chute X, themember 194' engages the label flap L' and folds the same tightly againstthe stack as shown in Fig. 26. The resilient tension arm 190 of thechute presses the stack and label against the member 194' and holds thestack thereagainst during the reciprocation of the chute to the left asshown in Fig. 7.

Wrapped and labeled stacks are successively ejected into the chute X andas they are ejected force along the chute previously ejected stacks theupper sides of which are pressed against the bottom channel of the chuteby the brush 195 which holds the label against the stack to facilitatethe drying of the glue.

We do not wish to be understood as limited 1. A wrapping machinecomprising, in

combination, means for folding a wrapper about the longitudinal sides ofa rectangular shaped article with overlapping portions of said wrapperover at least two of said sides and longitudinal portions of saidwrapper extending beyond the ends of said article, and a pluralit of endfolders for folding said longitudinally-extending portions of saidwrapper at each end of said article into at least six separate endfolds. 2. A wrapping machine comprising, in combination, means forreceiving a wrapper and an article having angularly disposed sides,means for folding a wrapper about the longitudinal sides of an articlewith overlapping portions of said wrapper over at least two of saidsides and longitudinal portions of said wrapper extending beyond theends of said article, and a plurality of end folding members forsuccessively folding said longitudinally extending portions of saidwrapper at each end of said article into five separate end folds oneupon the other against the end of the article and a sixth end foldagainst a side of said article.

3-. A wrapping machine comprising, in combination, means for receiving awrapper and an article having angularly disposed sides, means forfolding a wrapper about the longitudinal sides of an article w1th aportion extending beyond the end of said article, and a plurality of endfolders to fold said extending portion of the wrapper at the end of saidarticle into at least six separate end folds.

4. A wrapping machine for wrapping articles having angularly disposedsides comprising means for feeding an article through the machine, and aplurality of folding members acting successively upon the articles asthey are fed to fold in each successive step a side portion and anextended end portion of a wrapper simultaneously against an article.

5. A wrapping machine for wrapping articles having angularly disposedsides comprisin means for feeding an article through the machine, and aplurality of folding members acting successively upon the articles asthey are fed to fold in each successive step a side portion and anextended endportion of a wrapper simultaneously against a side andadjacent ends of said article.

6. A wrapping machine for wrapping articles having angularly disposedsides comprising means for feeding an article through the machine, and aplurality of folding members acting successively upon the articles asthey are fed to simultaneously fold in each successive step a sideportion and an extended end portion of a wrapper against an article, theend portions of said wrapper being folded one upon the othersuccessively during the folding of the wrapper about the sides of thearticle.

7. In a wrapping machine for wrapping articles having angularly disposedsides, in combination, means for folding a wrapper about the sides andends of an article with overlapping portions of said wrapper over atleast two sides of said article comprising a plurality of folding platesacting successively to simultaneously fold in each successive step aside portion and an extended end portion of a wrapper against anarticle, the end portions of said wrapper being folded one upon theother successively during the folding of the wrapper about the sides ofthe article.

8. A wrapping machine comprising a plurality of, successively actingolding plates arranged to fold in each successive step a side portionand an extended end portion of a wrapper against an article, and meansfor folding the final end extensions of the wrapper away from the endsand upon'a side of the article.

9. In a wrappingmachine in combination, a chute for folding a wrapperabout three sides of the article, a rotatable wrapping wheel to receivethe partially wrapped article and adapted in its rotation to fold thewrapper against a. fourth side of the article, a chute to receive thesaid partially wrapped article from the said wheel and acting to foldthe wrapper against a previously wrapped side of the article with aportion of the said wrapper extending from the said article, a chutedisposed transversely to the last named chute for receiving the articleand thereby folding the extended wrapper portion against anotherpreviously wrapped side of the article.

10. In a wrapping machine in combination, means to fold a wrapper aboutthe sides of an article, a wrapping wheel having pockets to receive anarticle with a wrapper partially folded about the same, and means topartially fold the said wrapper against the ends of said-articlecomprising resiliently mounted semi-circular folding plates locatedadjacent said folding wheel and having at one end thereof end foldingmeans including a folding slot formed therein.

11. In a wrapping machine, a wrapping wheel having oppositely disposedpockets, a plunger movably guided in each of said pockets betweenarticle receiving and ejecting positions and means connected to saidplungers for simultaneously moving the plunger of one pocket to ejectingposition and the plunger of the other pocket to receiving position.

12. In a wrapping machine, a wrapping wheel having oppositely disposedreceiving pockets, plungers within the said pockets adapted to be movedsimultaneously to receiving and ejecting positions and means to operatethe said plungers comprising, a plunger rack connected to each of saidplungers, a pinion engaging said racks, and an actuating rack for saidpinion, and means to intermittently operate the said actuating rack tomove the said plungers into the said receiving and ejecting positions.

13. In a wrapping machine, in combination, folding means, means toposition a wrapper adjacent the said folding means, a reciprocatingplunger to receive an article and feed the same with the said wrapper tothe folding means, means to deliver an article to the said plunger, andmeans comprising articulated guide members arranged to yieldinglyembrace the ends of the article and position the same with relation tothe wrapper during its delivery to the said plunger.

1- A wrapping machine comprising in combination, an intermittentlyrotated wrapping wheel, plungers in said wheel to eject the Wrappedarticle therefrom, a reciprocating discharge chute adjacent said wheel.and means to reciprocate the said chute toward and away from said wheelto receive a wrapped article ejected from the said wheel.

15. A wrapping machine comprising in combination, a rotatable wrappingwheel for folding a wrapper about an article, means to eject the wrappedarticles from the said wrapping wheel, and a discharge chute movable toand from the said wheel and adapted to receive the said ejected wrappedarticles.

16. A wrapping machine comprising in combination, an intermittentlyrotatable wrapping wheel for partially folding a wrapper about anarticle and leaving a iii) wrapper flap extending therefrom, means toeject the partially wrapped article from the said wheel when at rest, areciprocating discharge chute adapted to be moved adjacent the saidwheel for the ejecting operation, the said chute having at its receivingend a rigid folding member and a yieldable tensioning member wherebywhen the said chute is in its receiving position, the partially wrappedarticle may, be ejected thereinto and the wrapping operation completed.

17. A wrapping machine comprising in combination, an intermittentlyrotating wrapping wheel, an ejector for ejecting wrapped articlestherefrom, a discharge chute for receiving the said ejected articles andadapted for a reciprocating movement toward the said wheel for theejecting operation, means for reciprocating the said chute, the saidchute comprising an article supporting channel, having a yield-ablearticle engaging member at its receiving end and a brush lined memberhaving a wrapper folding member at its receiving end cooperating withthe said yieldable member to receive the article ejected from the saidwheel.

18. In a wrapping machine, a rotatable wrapping wheel having pockets,plungers reciprocable in said pockets, actuating means to reciprocatesaid plungers to a point not beyond the mouth of said pockets fordischarging articles therefrom, a receiving device to receive thearticle ejected from said pockets, and means to reciprocate saidreceiving device to and from the ejecting position of said pockets.

19. In a wrapping machine, a rotatable wrapping wheel having pockets,means to vintermittently rotate said wrapping wheel,

plungers reciprocable in said pockets, actuating means to reciprocatesaid plungers to a point not beyond the mouth of said pockets fordisi-harging articles therefrom, a receiving device to receive thearticles ejected from said pockets, and means to move said re ceivingdevice to a position to be adjacent the mouth of each pocket as thelatter comes to its discharging position and to move said receivingdevice away from said pocket after the article is discharged therefrom.

20. in a wrapping machine, in combination, means to position for awrapping operation an article and a wrapper of sufficient length toextend about said article with an overlap on two sides thereof, meanscomprising a plunger and 'coacting folding devices to fold said wrapperagainst three sides of said article and two corner extensions of saidwrapper in overlapped posi tion upon the ends of said article, meanscomprising successively-acting folding devices to thereafter fold ineach successive step a portion of said wrapper against the side of thearticle, and a corner extension of said wrapper against each end of saidarticle.

21. In a wrapping machine, in combination, means to position for awrapping operation an article and a wrapper of sufficient length toextend. about said article with an overlap on two sides. thereof,meanscomprising a plunger and coactingfolding devices to fold saidwrapper against three sides of said article and two corner extensions ofsaid wrapper in overlapped position upon the ends of said article, meanscomprising successively-acting folding devices to thereafter fold ineach successive step a portion of said wrapper against the side of thearticle, and a corner extension of said Wrapper against each end of saidarticle, and means to fold the final corner extensions of said wrapperupon one side of the article.

22. In a wrapping machine in combination, a folding chute, anintermittently rotated wrapping wheel having pockets, means for movingan article and wrapper through said folding chute and into a pocket ofsaid wrapping wheel, folding devices associated with said folding chuteacting during the travel of the article and Wrapper therethrough to foldportions of the wrapper against the side andends of the article, asecond folding chute, means for rotating said wrapping wheel to registersaid pocket with said second folding chute, means acting during therotation of said wrapping wheel to fold a further portionof said wrapperagainst the side of said article and extensions of said wrapper againstthe ends of said article, means to move said partially wrapped articleout of said pocket and through said second folding chute, foldingdevices associated with said second folding chute acting during thetravel of said article to fold a portion of said wrapper against apreviously wrapped side of said article and extensions of said wrapperagainst the ends of said article, a third folding chute, means to movesaid partially wrapped article transversely of said second folding chuteinto said third folding chute, and means acting during said travel tofold a further portion of said wrapper against a previously wrapped sideof said article and extensions of said wrapper against the ends of saidarticle, and means associated with said third folding chute to foldfinal end extensions of said wrapper against the side of said article.

23. In a wrapping machine, a wrapping wheel having oppositely disposedarticle re ceiving pockets, a plunger movably guided in each of saidpockets movable between article receiving and ejecting positions,operating mechanism connected to said plungers for simultaneousl movingone of said plungers to an e ecting position and the other to areceiving position and vice versa.

